Karl Knapp to Join Blackstone Advisory Partners
New York, NY, September 3, 2013. Blackstone Advisory Partners, a division of Blackstone (NYSE:BX), today announced that Karl Knapp has joined as a Senior Managing Director based in New York to head up the Group’s Global Industrials practice. He brings to Blackstone his extensive expertise, particularly in the paper and packaging, building products and diversified industrials sectors.
Mr. Knapp brings over 20 years of dedicated industry experience, most recently as the Head of the Global Industrials Group at UBS and a Vice Chairman of UBS’ Investment Banking Division. Transactions led by Mr. Knapp include: advising Anglo-American Corporation on its $8 billion demerger of its paper and packaging subsidiary, Mondi; Stora-Enso on the sale of its North American Papers Division for $2.5 billion; International Paper on its $4.3 billion acquisition of Temple-Inland; and, most recently, advising Koch Industries’ Georgia-Pacific division on its $1.5 billion acquisition of Buckeye Technologies.
Mr. Knapp started his career at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette and E. F. Hutton and Company, and worked as a senior banker at Morgan Stanley until 2002, when he joined UBS Investment Bank. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and an M.A. from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
John Studzinski, Global Head of Blackstone Advisory Partners, said, “Karl’s long experience and track record advising CEOs, companies and Boards will enable Blackstone’s Advisory practice to operate at another level within the industrial space; his strong industry knowledge in the areas of paper and packaging, building products and diversifieds will also allow us to make further inroads in these important industrial sectors. There is no question that Karl’s addition will make a material impact on our commercial and strategic platform.”
Karl Knapp added, “I am delighted to join Blackstone, a firm with an unparalleled reputation for providing objective and differentiated advice to its clients on their most complex strategic assignments. I look forward to working with the talented team at Blackstone Advisory Partners and helping the group grow its industrials practice in the years ahead.”
About Blackstone
Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment and advisory firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, the companies we advise and the broader global economy. We do this through the commitment of our extraordinary people and flexible capital. Our alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge fund solutions, credit-focused funds and closed-end funds. Blackstone also provides various financial advisory services, including financial and strategic advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow us on Twitter @Blackstone.
Blackstone Contact
Christine Anderson
Global Public Affairs
+ 1 212 583 5182
[email protected]